Display tray with depending skirt

ABSTRACT

In a collapsible tray made from a single blank, an upstanding front display panel including a skirt portion adapted to overlie the forward edge of and to extend below the shelf upon which the tray is supported, the skirt itself constituting an integral downwardly directed and reversely looped continuation of the floor panel of the tray and terminating as a front panel of the tray.

United States Patent [191 Taul) 51 Oct. 14, 1975 [5 DISPLAY TRAY WITH DEPENDING SKIRT [75] Inventor: Ronald H. Taub, Highland Park, 111.

[73] Assignee: Taub Family Trust, Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Apr. 29, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 465,184

[52] U.S. Cl 229/41 B; 229/32 R; 40/312 [51] Int. Cl. B65D 5/36 [58] Field of Search 229/41 B, 32 R; 40/312; 312/107, 108

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,513,608 10/1924 Labombarde 229/32 2,334,902 11/1943 Buttery 11/1949 Zalkind 312/108 X 2,885,137 5/1959 Guyer 229/32 X 3,292,290 1 2/ 1966 Potter 3,326,445 6/1967 Goings 229/30 X Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorhead Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael G. Berkman [57] ABSTRACT In a collapsible tray made from a single blank, an upstanding front display panel including a skirt portion adapted to overlie the forward edge of and to extend below the shelf upon which the tray is supported, the skirt itself constituting an integral downwardly directed and reversely looped continuation of the floor panel of the tray and terminating as a front panel of the tray.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 SheetlofZ 3,912,158

Aqb $5 DISPLAY TRAY WITH DEPENDING SKIRT The present invention relates to an improved open top tray of the type finding utility as a container for articles shipped to supermarkets and the like. More particularly, the invention is directed to a collapsible tray fabricated from a single paperboard blank, the tray being shipped in a flat or collapsed form and being readily erectable at the point of use without any need for tools or fastening means of any type.

Storage trays for use in applications of the type in which thepresent invention finds utility have taken many physical forms and have been manufactured using various materials and techniques. These prior art trays, while serving a useful purpose, have not been satisfactory in all respects. In particular, the shallowness of the trays has resulted in a front wall or panel which is relatively short in vertical height and which does not provide an adequate display or advertising area in which properly to describe the product and to promote its sale. Moreover, the trays of the prior art have included no simple means by which undesirable shifting or rearward displacement of the tray on the shelf is prevented. It is the aim of the present invention to provide an improved collapsible tray of unitary construction which obviates the above and other shortcomings of prior art devices.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a relatively shallow, collapsible tray of unitary construction which, the overall depth of the tray notwithstanding, hasa front or face panel of substantial vertical expanse and in which the front panel still permits a viewing of the articles in the tray.

It is a related object of the invention to provide a collapsible, open top tray which includes a front panel or front wall structure which obviates the trays sliding rearwardly on its supporting shelf.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display tray which, while sturdy and stable in use, is readily collapsible for shipment or storage.

A related object of the invention is to provide a display with an integrally formed front wall placard, the tray being quickly and readily transformed from a substantially flat configuration to a completely selfsupporting' structure, without any need for tools, complex manipulative procedures, or auxiliary aids.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing in which: I

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display tray of the invention in place on a supporting shelf;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the tray;

,FIG. 3 is a side elevational view;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the tray taken substantially on the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross sectional view of the tray taken substantially on the lines 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on the lines 77 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the blank from which the tray of the invention is made, lines or scores upon which the blank is designed to be folded being shown in broken lines.

The aims and objects of the invention are accomplished by providing, in a display tray, a skirt constituting a downwardly directed extension of the front panel of the tray, the skirt as well as the front panel being an integral extension of the floor panel of the tray.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown for the purpose of illustrative disclosure, a preferred embodiment of the tray of the invention. In the specific form depicted, the tray 20 illustrated comprises, as best shown in FIGS. 1-3, a floor panel 24, a pair of opposed side panels 26 and 28 joined to the floor panel along fold'lines 32 and 34 (FIG. 8), a rear panel 36 connected to the floor panel 24 along a fold line 38, and a front panel 42. The front panel 42 constitutes an integral extension of the floor panel 24 and includes a downwardly extending skirt 46 formed by a flange 50 connected to the floor panel 24 along a fold line 52. At its lower extremity, the flange 50 is integrally joined along a foldline 54 to a coextensive upwardly directed web 56 constituting the lower portion of front panel 42 of the tray. That is, the flange 50 and that portion 56 of the front panel which overlies the flange 50 extend below the shelf 60 on which the tray is supported so that the forward edge 64 of the shelf 60 seats within the corner formed by the floor panel 24 and the skirt 46 to prevent rearward displacement of the tray on the shelf.

In the specific form of the tray illustrated, the rear panel 36 includes, at each end, a pair of opposed wings or hinge tabs and 72 integrally joined to the rear panel 36 along fold lines 76 and 78, the tabs extending inwardly into the tray and perpendicularly to the rear panel 36 to overlie, contiguously, the corresponding end portions of the side walls 26 and 28.

The rear end portions of the side walls 26 and 28 are formed with angularly directed corner fold lines 80 and 82 extending from a lower corner juncture of each of the side panels 26 and 28 with the floor panel 24 and the rear panel 36, the fold lines 80 and 82 being angled upwardly and inwardly from each corner juncture to the top edge of each side panel 26 and 28. Adhesive means 84 secure the hinge tabs 70 and 72 to the adjacent rear end portions of the side panels 26 and 28, the attachment of the cooperating elements being restricted to the zones 80a and 82a rearward of the angled fold lines 80 and 82, whereby inward folding of the side panels 26 and 28 along the fold lines 32 and 34 and the angled fold lines 80 and 82 operates to effect inward pivotal collapse of the side panels 26 and 28 upon the floor panel 24 and inward pivotal collapse of the wing tabs 70 and 72 along the vertical fold line 76 and 78 while obviating any folding of the wing tabs themselves. An important advantage of the structure described is that the wing tabs 70 and 72 thereby constitute pivoting mechanical stabilizers operable to support the side panels 26 and 28 of the erected tray 20in an upright position when the hinged tabs 70 and 72 are in substantially full abutment against their respective side panels 26 and 28 and the tray is ready for use.

Connected to the side panels 26 and 28 at forward extremities thereof defining fold lines 86 and 88 are a second pair of wings or hinge tabs 92 and 94 which extend contiguously along and are secured to the rear face of the front panel 42. In the preferred form of the invention illustrated, the wing tabs 92 and 94 are generally L-shaped to add additional strength and stability to the final structure. At their forward ends the side walls 26 and 28 are formed with upwardly and rearwardly directed fold lines 96 and 98 extending from the corner juncture formed by the side walls 26 and 28, the wing tabs 92 and 94, and the floor panel 24, the fold lines 96 and 98 in cooperation with the forward edge fold line 100 and 52 facilitating forward pivotal collapse of the front panel 42 to provide a flattened tray structure.

While the disclosure presented is that of a preferred embodiment of the skirted tray, and while specific details of such features as fastening techniques and tray shapes have been described with respect to a preferred embodiment, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations in structural details, materials used, and in the final overall appearance may be made without departing from the underlying principles of the invention.

With the teaching of the present invention before them, those skilled in the art will be able to deduce many substantially equivalent variations none of which constitutes a material departure from the present invention. It is, therefore, desired by the following claims to include within the scope of the invention all such variations and modifications by which substantially the results of this invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

What is claimed is:

l. A collapsible display tray of cardboard, corrugated board and the like adapted in use to overlie and to be supported on a product storage and display shelf and adapted to fold flat for shipment and storage,

said tray including a floor panel, a pair of opposed side panels, and a front and a rear panel each hingedly joined to said floor panel along fold lines and extending upwardly therefrom, and

means connecting each side panel, said front panel and said rear panel to each panel thereadjacent to form an upstanding perimetric wall extending around said floor panel,

a skirt connected to and depending from said front panel as a downward extension thereof,

said skirt projecting below said floor panel to form at a juncture therewith an inside corner adapted to receive therewithin a forwardly directed top edge portion of the shelf on which said tray is supported in use, whereby said skirt covers the forward edge of said shelf and depends downwardly therefrom, angularly directed corner fold lines formed in said side panels at each end thereof, each said fold lines extending from a lower corner juncture of each said side panel with said floor panel and with said rear panel, each said fold lines being angled upwardlyand inwardly from each said corner juncture to the top edge of each said side panel;

whereby said side panels are foldable along hinge lines connecting said side panels with said floor panel and along said angled fold lines as said front and rear panels are simultaneously pivoted about said hinge lines to overlie said side panels, thereby to provide a collapsed, substantially flat structure facilitating storing and shipping of said tray prior to use,

tabs hingedly joined to said rear panel along vertical fold lines at each side edge thereof, said tabs overlying and in contact with inside faces of respective said side panels thereadjacent, and

wherein said fastening means connecting said rear panel with said side panels constitute means securing said side panels to said hinge tabs in zonal areas of said side panels which are rearward of said angled corner fold lines formed at the rear end portions of said side panels,

whereby folding of said side panels along said angled fold lines operates to effect pivotal collapse of said side panels and pivotal collapse of said tabs along said vertical fold lines while obviating folding of the tabs themselves,

said tabs thereby constituting pivoting mechanical stabilizers operable to support said side panels of the erected tray in an upright position when said hinge tabs are in substantially full abutment against said side panels and the tray is ready for use.

2. A collapsible display tray of cardboard, corrugated board and the like adapted in use to overlie and to be supported on a product carrying shelf and adapted to fold flat for shipment and storage,

said tray including a floor panel, a pair of opposed side panels, and a front and a rear panel each hingedly joined to said floor panel along fold lines and extending upwardly therefrom,

means connecting each side panel, said front panel and said rear panel to each panel thereadjacent to form an upstanding perimetric wall extending around said floor panel,

a skirt connected to and depending from said front panel as a downward extension thereof, said skirt projecting below said floor panel to form at a juncture therewith an inside corner adapted to receive therewithin a forwardly directed top edge portion of the shelf on which said tray is supported in use, whereby said tray covers the forward edge of said shelf and depends downwardly therefrom,

said tray being formed from a single blank and said skirt constituting an integral continuation of said floor panel,

said skirt consisting essentially of three foldlineseparated webs including a downwardly projecting first web joined to said floor panel along a first fold line at a forward edge of said floor panel, a second web joined to said first web along a second fold line at a lower extremity of said first web, said second web being directed upwardly along and contiguously overlying said first web, a third fold line overlying said first fold line and demarking an upper limit of said second web, and a third web extending upwardly from said third fold line and constituting the front panel of said tray,

said first web and said second web defining said skirt and being pivotal together outwardly about said first and about said third fold line to a position to overlie said front panel, and being also selectively pivotal together inwardly about said first and said third fold line to a position under said floor panel in contiguous abutment therewith,

whereby said skirt folds to assume either one of two different non-projecting modes thereby to facilitate flat folding of said tray for shipment and storage.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising hinge tabs integrally formed with said side panels and joined thereto along fold lines at forward ends of said side panels to extend inwardly from and normally to said side panels and to abut said front panel for securement thereto, and

means fastening said hinge tabs to said front panel.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising hinge tabs integrally formed with said rear panel at each side edge thereof along fold lines,

said tabs extending normally to respective each said side panels thereadjacent contiguously to overlie each respective said side panel, and

fastening means securing said tabs to each respective said side panel contiguous thereto. 

1. A collapsible display tray of cardboard, corrugated board and the like adapted in use to overlie and to be supported on a product storage and display shelf and adapted to fold flat for shipment and storage, said tray including a floor panel, a pair of opposed side panels, and a front and a rear panel each hingedly joined to said floor panel along fold lines and extending upwardly therefrom, and means connecting each side panel, said front panel and said rear panel to each panel thereadjacent to form an upstanding perimetric wall extending around said floor panel, a skirt connected to and depending from said front panel as a downward extension thereof, said skirt projecting below said floor panel to form at a juncture therewith an inside corner adapted to receive therewithin a forwardly directed top edge portion of the shelf on which said tray is supported in use, whereby said skirt covers the forward edge of said shelf and depends downwardly therefrom, angularly directed corner fold lines formed in said side panels at each end thereof, each said fold lines extending from a lower corner juncture of each said side panel with said floor panel and with said rear panel, each said fold lines being angled upwardly and inwardly from each said corner juncture to the top edge of each said side panel; whereby said side panels are foldable along hinge lines connecting said side panels with said floor panel and along said angled fold lines as said front and rear panels are simultaneously pivoted about said hinge lines to overlie said side panels, thereby to provide a collapsed, substantially flat structure facilitating storing and shipping of said tray prior to use, tabs hingedly joined to said rear panel along vertical fold lines at each side edge thereof, said tabs overlying and in contact with inside faces of respective said side panels thereadjacent, and wherein said fastening means connecting said rear panel with said side panels constitute means securing said side panels to said hinge tabs in zonal areas of said side panels which are rearward of said angled corner fold lines formed at the rear end portions of said side panels, whereby folding of said side panels along said angled fold lines operates to effect pivotal collapse of said side panels and pivotal collapse of said tabs along said vertical fold lines while obviating folding of the tabs themselves, said tabs thereby constituting pivoting mechanical stabilizers operable to support said side panels of the erected tray in an upright position when said hinge tabs are in substantially full abutment against said side panels and the tray is ready for use.
 2. A collapsible display tray of cardboard, corrugated board and the like adapted in use to overlie and to be supported on a product carrying shelf and adapted to fold flat foR shipment and storage, said tray including a floor panel, a pair of opposed side panels, and a front and a rear panel each hingedly joined to said floor panel along fold lines and extending upwardly therefrom, means connecting each side panel, said front panel and said rear panel to each panel thereadjacent to form an upstanding perimetric wall extending around said floor panel, a skirt connected to and depending from said front panel as a downward extension thereof, said skirt projecting below said floor panel to form at a juncture therewith an inside corner adapted to receive therewithin a forwardly directed top edge portion of the shelf on which said tray is supported in use, whereby said tray covers the forward edge of said shelf and depends downwardly therefrom, said tray being formed from a single blank and said skirt constituting an integral continuation of said floor panel, said skirt consisting essentially of three foldline-separated webs including a downwardly projecting first web joined to said floor panel along a first fold line at a forward edge of said floor panel, a second web joined to said first web along a second fold line at a lower extremity of said first web, said second web being directed upwardly along and contiguously overlying said first web, a third fold line overlying said first fold line and demarking an upper limit of said second web, and a third web extending upwardly from said third fold line and constituting the front panel of said tray, said first web and said second web defining said skirt and being pivotal together outwardly about said first and about said third fold line to a position to overlie said front panel, and being also selectively pivotal together inwardly about said first and said third fold line to a position under said floor panel in contiguous abutment therewith, whereby said skirt folds to assume either one of two different non-projecting modes thereby to facilitate flat folding of said tray for shipment and storage.
 3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising hinge tabs integrally formed with said side panels and joined thereto along fold lines at forward ends of said side panels to extend inwardly from and normally to said side panels and to abut said front panel for securement thereto, and means fastening said hinge tabs to said front panel.
 4. The structure as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising hinge tabs integrally formed with said rear panel at each side edge thereof along fold lines, said tabs extending normally to respective each said side panels thereadjacent contiguously to overlie each respective said side panel, and fastening means securing said tabs to each respective said side panel contiguous thereto. 